Through a web-based tool, men enter the results of their PSA test history and personal information such as height, weight and health history. This information is compared with up to a million case studies and outcomes from other men with various prostate conditions. Finally, the system may suggest a medical detective process for doctors and their patients in their efforts to detect non-cancerous prostate conditions and improve prostate cancer screening, the company said.
We all know that the swift development of an electronic medical records universe constitutes one of President Obama’s major benchmarks of healthcare reform in the coming decade. Corporate behemoths like Google have embraced electronic health record (EHR) technology, paving the way for a market, though nascent, that is ripe for vigorous growth. Now you can count another herculean player using its heft in entering the healthcare marketplace via EHR distribution — WalMart.
The big box discount retailer is partnering with Dell computers and an IT company to deliver its brand of EHR to physicians and healthcare organizations. You may recall that WalMart spearheaded and has successfully negotiated the resale of bargain basement generic medications for patients, invigorating the market for non-branded pharmaceuticals. It plans a similar trajectory with this venture, which will be marketed to smaller healthcare organizations and physicians in small group or solo practices. | LINK
Two-thousand nine is being dubbed “the year of the generic”. Two senators are trying to keep it that way, citing the potential for Pharma (and its branded, patent-extending reformulations) to simply pay off the manufacturers of generics in an effort to halt their production. It is the aim of the Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act to abolish the so-called “pay-to-delay” actions of drug manufacturers in which massive financial buyouts are given to generic drugmakers while they wait to market their product, guaranteeing patent extensions. But is this legislation really necessary? Not according to some critics who say that it is in the best interest of Pharma to invest in next-generation research and development, as such buyouts targeted by the legislature in this case are “last-ditch” efforts by some manufacturers to stifle generic competition. | LINK
To go along with all of the planning in deciding just how to cover a balooning Boomer population, healthcare policy wonks and legislators now have to consider the future costs of cancer drugs into the mix.
Medicare has quietly expanded its coverage for cancer drugs to include some treatments that haven’t gotten the Food and Drug Administration’s full seal of approval.
The change was announced last summer with little fanfare and took effect in the fall. It means that doctors and patients seeking Medicare reimbursement for certain novel treatments won’t have to negotiate with the billing department for payment. But it’s also certain to increase Medicare spending, since cancer medications often cost thousands of dollars a month.
Cancer and other high-profile illnesses of aging constantly receive press similar to this item. Isn’t it time for legislators and third parties to sit down and discuss coverage of aging HIV+ patients? Although sheer numbers may argue otherwise, one cannot deny the unforseen consequences patients in the latter population will have on the financing of chronic care. | LINK
It’s been said by many a healthcare policy wonk this year: 2008 is the year of the generic drug. You don’t need to go any further to see evidence of this crystal clear assessment. Widespread adoption of a generic formulary in many Medicare Part D plans leads the charge in the raw numbers of prescriptions written this year by providers. Even outsourcing figures into the enormity of this country’s supply of generics. India leads a list of low-cost worldwide suppliers. Of course, the issue of drug contamination cannot be ignored. | LINK
Originating from Saint Paul, Minnesota, [doctorpundit.com] is a weblog about the policy of healthcare and where it intersects with politics and public opinion; it is edited by Michael Douglas, MD, MBA. Welcome, and please consider my take on what is Healthcare 2.0, complemented by a few of my thoughts on my personal avocations and guilty pleasures: music, prose, and writing. Follow Doctor Pundit via RSS above.
asthma moment captured Just got back from the hospital #sick #allergies #asthma #hospital by marina_dawg http://t.co/FhRDJkm5
RT @ehrandhit #CPOE Acceptance Still Slowed Down By Workflow Changes | Hospital #EMR and #EHR http://t.co/2VceJDfN
Distinguishing Between Medical Coding and Medical Billing http://t.co/JQ4I17ZF #abstract #accomplished #assign #biller #billing RT @ehrandhit #EMR gap grows between large, small hospitals | Hospital EMR and #EHR http://t.co/EtfeIGq7 #HITECH
3 Tips That Can Help You Understand EDI Software Financing & 3... http://t.co/XNXSelbb #business #company #easy #edi #emr #experience
DOCTOR PUNDIT @ ONE YEAR | An occasional DP series from 2010 highlighting healthcare policy trends over the period from 2009-2010 in a compare/contrast format.
